What is it
Memory (RAM) temporarily holds data a program is actively using, while storage (hard drives, SSDs) permanently holds data even when the power is off. They serve different jobs and have different speed and cost trade-offs.
Why it matters
Every time your computer runs slowly with too many apps open, or a file survives after a restart, you're seeing memory and storage doing their distinct jobs — understanding the difference explains real, everyday computer behaviour.
Exam tip
Be ready to compare RAM vs. storage on specific criteria (speed, volatility, cost per GB) in a table format — this comparison comes up almost every exam series.
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